The main course is beef with fish sauce, alliums and Brussels sprouts.

The main course is beef with fish sauce, alliums and Brussels sprouts.

Photo: John Storey/Special to The Chronicle

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An intermezzo of berry sorbet.

An intermezzo of berry sorbet.

Photo: John Storey/Special to The Chronicle

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Dessert is date cake with pear and buttermilk.

Dessert is date cake with pear and buttermilk.

Photo: John Storey/Special to The Chronicle

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The dining room is distinguished by goldleaf horizontal stripes on the wall.

The dining room is distinguished by goldleaf horizontal stripes on the wall.

Photo: John Storey/Special to The Chronicle

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Service is professional.

Service is professional.

Photo: John Storey/Special to The Chronicle

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And the table setting is precise.

And the table setting is precise.

Photo: John Storey/Special to The Chronicle

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Wine pairings are also available for $65.

Wine pairings are also available for $65.

Photo: John Storey/Special to The Chronicle

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The restaurant also includes a separate 10 seat bar called the Linden Room.

The restaurant also includes a separate 10 seat bar called the Linden Room.

Photo: John Storey/Special to The Chronicle

Nightbird features fixed-price refinement in Hayes Valley

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Kim Alter spent two years negotiating, building out and finishing Nightbird in Hayes Valley. The restaurant has a very personal feel with a very serene, finished dining room. While the kitchen is sequestered behind a wall, it is open on one side and visible from part of the dining room and as you walk down the ramp into the adjoining 10 seat Linden Room bar.

Alter features a five course menu for $125 (wine pairings add $65). The menu changes weekly and always includes a complimentary starter that is bound to be a signature: a soft-cooked quail egg nested in crisp fried shreds of leeks and topped with a brown butter hollandaise. That might be followed by dishes featuring spot prawns, matsutake mushrooms, squab, beef and date cake.

She’s created a restaurant that is already excellent, and will no doubt get even better as she settles into the space and further refines her voice.